wellspring

a quiet mouth in the floor of the world
come   back
the moon does not turn
no longer

petals fall where   she walked
hold what   was given gently
wind across   water
all   is   done already

lift this   stone from heart
you are still
always there
ash bone breath dust

we who   walked   together
and yet   parted
the road bends
press   onward
leaves under foot
snow   on shoulders
winter   pulls   the world

where you went
down   below knowing

come   home
the cold air keeps walking
without you

stars fall in silence
into the   river
drowned   in light
below   the silence   below silence
speak   gently
what was once   ours
always   never   here

the lazaret, the study, the library, the balcony, the conservatory, the garden, the presbytery, the kitchen, the lounge, the transept, the buttery, the belfry, the eaves, the larder, the gallery, the nave, the corridor, the mews, the cistern, the oubliette, the scriptorium, the bathroom.